Iggy Pop misbehaving badly at Temple Newsam, the V98 festival in Leeds, the granddaddy of punk. His spitting at the photographers during his first number gave me a sense of foreboding, but it wasn’t much of a problem; he wasn’t getting anywhere near me. But midway through the 2nd, the swirling of the microphone stand, like a cheerleader’s baton, gave me pause for thought and made me realise how right I was. The other photographers must have seen the stand skidding across the stage because they were scattering but by the time I saw it it was too late, I turned my back on it at the last moment but it caught a glancing blow to my neck and shoulders, which was enough to knock me down and leave me shaken, highlighting the real danger of getting in the way of the cussing Iggy.
Dire Straits performing at Maine Road, Manchester, in June [1992]. Photographers at concerts usually just get the first three songs to photograph and I was quite happy with that, although I was kind of hoping for my favourite Dire Straits song within them three. But it didn’t. The record company rep herded all the photographers out of the arena. That’s when I heard the first few bars of my favourite song, and the rep heard me say, ‘Oh dammit.’ He asked what was wrong, and I told him. He said I could stay as long as I sent him some prints. Oh, the joy, I kept my side of the bargain and got to hear Romeo & Juliet from within a few feet of the band.
Stevie Wonder performing at his Natural Wonder tour, Sheffield Arena 1992.
Michael Jackson, History World Tour, Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield 10th July 1997.
Lemmy from Motorhead at the Leeds Town & Country Club.
